1963 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-061

Description

Closing this batch at the highest currently cataloged number for the 1963 proof Lincoln Memorial Cent DDO series, WDDO-061 stands at the frontier of the attribution catalog, a position that is by definition temporary as new varieties continue to be documented. The Wexler Team attributed this variety and designated it Wexler Variety ID 1963 1c Pr WDDO-061, placing it within the comprehensive Wexler Doubled Die Files alongside the more than sixty other DDO entries now known for the 1963 P-mint cent across both proof and business-strike categories. The total count of varieties for this single date and mint combination is one of the highest in the entire Lincoln cent series and reflects both the enormous production volume at the Philadelphia Mint in 1963 and the painstaking work of attributors who have examined thousands of coins to build the catalog. As a proof striking, WDDO-061 was produced from chrome-plated, polished dies operating at elevated striking pressure on specially prepared planchets, with individual die pairs typically retired after approximately 3,000 impressions. The 3,075,645 proof cents struck in 1963 represent the last uninterrupted proof set production before the coin shortage of 1965-67 prompted the United States Mint to suspend all proof coinage and eliminate mint marks. Collectors examining 1963 proof cents for this variety should work under magnification with low-angle lighting, comparing the obverse design elements against published reference photographs. The coin was struck on a 95% copper and 5% zinc planchet and carries the familiar Brenner-Gasparro design pairing.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1963 1¢ Pr WDDO-061
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References